General
Manager:
Dave DombrowskiMinor
League Director:
Dan LunettaScouting
Director:
Scott PleisAAA:
Toledo Mud Hens (International League) 67-77AA:
Erie SeaWolves (Eastern League League) 67-75Hi
A:
Lakeland Flying Tigers (Florida State League) 64-74Low
A:
West Michigan Whitecaps (Midwest League) 70-69Rookie
Adv.:
Connecticut Tigers (New York-Penn League) 39-35Rookie:
GCL Tigers (Gulf Coast League) 29-31Dominican:
DSL Tigers (Dominican Summer League) 26-41Venezuelan:
VSL Tigers (Venezuelan Summer League) 28-43System
OverviewComing
off of a season in which the Tigers advanced to the American League
Championship Series, falling to the Texas Rangers, the offseason
started rather quietly for Detroit. Major improvements weren't
deemed as necessary, as the team already boasted one of the best
young sluggers in the game in Miguel Cabrera as well as the best
pitcher in all of baseball, Justin Verlander. Cabrera led the league
in batting (.344), on-base percentage (.448) and doubles (48), while
Verlander enjoyed a historic season in which he won both the 2011 AL
MVP and Cy Young awards after claiming the pitching triple crown with
24 wins, a 2.40 ERA and 250 strikeouts.
The Tigers didn't have to make too many moves outside of some smaller
cosmetic ones since they made two significant trades prior to the
2011 deadline that helped propel them to the playoffs.
To
bolster the starting staff, Doug Fister was acquired from the
Mariners at the deadline, and went 8-1 with a 1.79 ERA through the end of
the regular season.
Delmon
Young was acquired in mid-August after the non-waiver deadline, and
proved to be clutch down the stretch and into the playoffs, slugging
eight home runs in August and September while adding five more bombs
in October.
In
the process, the Tigers didn't have to mortgage their future to
acquire these two key players, both of whom will continue to be a big
part of the team's success heading into 2012.
The
need for a significant offseason acquisition changed at the end of
January when it was learned that designated hitter Victor Martinez
would miss the 2012 season after having reconstructive surgery on his
left knee. A few days later, the Tigers addressed that loss by
signing free agent Prince Fielder to a 9-year, $214 million contract.
Adding
Fielder to the lineup gives the Tigers arguably the most fearsome
one-two punch in all of baseball. Cabrera and Fielder enter the
season at 28 and 27 years old respectively, and while many teams
reportedly stayed away from Fielder due to the perception that his
body would not hold up over time, he has been remarkably durable
throughout his career. He not only played almost every single game
for the Milwaukee Brewers since taking over as the everyday first
baseman in 2006, but also has played almost every single inning of
those games.
Acquiring
Fielder was further proof that General Manager Dave Dombrowski has
never been shy about making a bold move in an attempt to improve his
team.
Cabrera
was acquired along with Dontrelle Willis from the Marlins in 2007 in
exchange for a prospect package that included two of the top
prospects in the game at the time, outfielder Cameron Maybin and
left-handed pitcher Andrew Miller.
Four
regular contributors to the team, Max Scherzer, Daniel Schlereth,
Phil Coke and Austin Jackson, were acquired as part of the
blockbuster three-team trade in December of 2009 that sent Curtis
Granderson to the Yankees and Edwin Jackson to the Diamondbacks.
Jhonny
Peralta was acquired from the Indians at the deadline in 2010 and
had a bounce-back year last season. Homegrown products Brennan
Boesch and Alex Avila enjoyed breakout seasons, and Jose Valverde,
signed as a free agent during the 2009-10 offseason, saved 49 games.
In
short, this is a team Dombrowski has built through every avenue
possible, whether it be via trades, free agency or as reinforcements
promoted from within.
A
lot of those reinforcements have come thanks to a previously
aggressive approach to the draft. Starting in 2004 when the Tigers
selected Verlander with the second overall pick, the team started to
commit a lot more financial resources toward the draft. Cameron
Maybin (2005), Andrew Miller (2006), Rick Porcello (2007), Jacob
Turner (2009) and Nick Castellanos (2010) all signed for bonuses well
above their recommended slot values. They weren't nearly as
aggressive in 2011, but also didn't have a first-round pick after
signing Victor Martinez as a Type A free agent.
The
team has also made greater financial investments with international
free agents, particularly in Latin America. It will take a few years
for those players to make an impact at the big-league level, but is
further proof of the Tigers' commitment to their own internal player
development process.2011
DraftThe
new draft rules will restrict how aggressive the Tigers can be with
the picks they do have in 2012 after forfeiting their first-round
pick by signing Fielder, severely limiting their draft
pool. However, as noted above, they took a very conservative
approach in 2011, which should give people a good idea of what to
expect from them this coming June.
While
the team hasn't been afraid to select and sign high school players to
big bonuses in recent years, they haven't taken too many prep players
past the big bonus babies listed above. In the past five years the
Tigers have selected only nine players from the high school ranks in
the top 10 rounds of the draft, including Porcello, Turner and
Castellanos.
Last
year they didn't select a high school player until the 15th round, signing toolsy outfielder Tyler Gibson away from Georgia Tech
for $525,000.
Catcher
James McCann was their first selection, a second round pick out of
Arkansas who is hailed more for his defensive prowess than his
offensive potential. Their next pick, third rounder Aaron Westlake,
has a promising bat, but may be limited defensively and may not have
the ideal power to be a fit at first base.
Third
baseman Jason King (fourth round) and outfielders Tyler Collins
(sixth), Jason Krizan (eighth), Chad Wright (ninth) and Jeff Holm
(12th)
will give the team an interesting group of talent that could progress
together in the lower levels of the system. All enjoyed statistical
success at the college/junior college level, with Tyler Collins'
left-handed bat standing out the most after hitting .313/.360/.534
with eight home runs in 42 games after signing.
Like
McCann, shortstop Brandon Loy (fifth) is known more for his defensive
skills, and will likely join this group of positional prospects on
the West Michigan Whitecaps roster to open the 2012 season.
The
team seemed more intent to infuse their system with bats, and didn't
select a pitcher until the seventh round when they took Brian Flynn
out of Wichita State. Flynn has exciting potential as a 6-foot-8
lefty that can reach the mid-90s with his fastball, but hasn't been
able to put all of the pieces together yet. He signed quickly and
was aggressively placed in the Midwest League to begin his
professional career, going 7-2 with a 3.46 ERA in 13 starts.
The
Tigers didn't take another arm until Ryan Woolley (13th round), and overall only selected and signed five pitchers in the
first 20 rounds.Top
10 Prospects
1.
RHP Jacob Turner
– Baseball-reference player profile
The
first time I had seen Turner pitch was at the 2008 Perfect Game
Pitcher/Catcher Indoor Showcase. Turner already showed the same
impressive build he still has today, as well as the electric arm
speed that allowed him to throw 92 mph fastballs that day to go along
with a hard, mid-70s curveball.
Six
months later Turner started the 2008 PG/Aflac All-American Classic
for the West squad, working the first two innings while striking out
five batters peaking at 95.
He
carried that success into the following spring, which led to him
being selected ninth overall by the Tigers, who signed him away from
a strong commitment to North Carolina with a $5.5 million contract as
the ninth overall pick in the 2009 draft. Similar to Rick Porcello,
another former PG/Aflac All-American and UNC recruit that signed for
big money, the Tigers have moved Turner aggressively up the ladder,
as he made his big league debut on July 30 against the Angels, less
than two years since signing. He made two more starts at the MLB
level in September to close out the season after spending most of the
year at the AA and AAA levels.
Turner
uses his size well to throw downhill while adding sinking action to
his fastball that routinely sits in the low-90s. He has the ability
to dial his heater up to 95-97, but thrives on pounding the strike
zone and inducing early, weak contact. His curveball has sharp
downward break, and he also throws a promising changeup that
continues to get better.
While
he may open the season in the Tigers' big-league rotation, it is more
likely that he re-opens the year back at AAA to add more seasoning,
experience and polish. He could be a very welcome addition to the
team mid-season, particularly given the Tigers' newfound postseason
aspirations, and profiles as a strong No. 2 pitcher.2.
3B Nick Castellanos–
Baseball-reference player profile
Similar
to Turner, Castellanos has a large, mature build, although is much
more muscular throughout his upper half with great natural strength.
That frame could push him either across the infield to first base or
to an outfield corner as he continues to mature, but for now he'll be
given the opportunity to stick at third base.
Castellanos'
bat is his calling card, as his strength gives him exciting power
potential. After signing for $3.45 million as the team's first
selection in the 2010 draft in the sandwich round, he spent the
entire 2011 season in the Midwest League where he hit .312/.367/.436
with 46 extra-base hits. He gets great extension in his swing, with
an aggressive yet disciplined approach that leads observers to believe many of the 36 doubles he hit will sail over the fence as he
continues to progress.
Should
he continue to enjoy success at the plate in the Florida State
League, a league that typically suppresses offensive numbers, the
Tigers could choose to speed up his progression. Ending the year at
the AA level, and subsequently the Arizona Fall League, is a very
realistic possibility for the 2012 season.

3. LHP Casey Crosby – Baseball-reference player profile
Crosby's career has had its share of ups and downs since signing for second round money as a fifth round pick in 2007. He missed most of 2008 after having Tommy John surgery the fall after he signed, and also missed most of 2010.
2009 and 2011 have been promising for the young left-hander, although similar to Andrew Oliver the Tigers may want to take their foot off the pedal with his development to allow him to build up the proper arm strength, especially given his injury history. While he was drafted in 2007, at 23-years old the Tigers can still be patient with his progression.
In 2009 Crosby spent his first full professional season in the Midwest League and enjoyed one of the best seasons of any minor league pitcher, going 10-4 with a 2.41 ERA in 24 starts, striking out 117 in 105 innings of work. Last year he was 9-7 with a 4.10 ERA at the AA level, making 25 starts while striking out 121 in 132 innings.
There's plenty to like about Crosby, as he passes the eye test with an athletic, 6-foot-5, 200-pound frame. He has the ability to dial his fastball up to the mid-90s while typically sitting at and maintaining low-90s heat deep into ballgames. He also throws a promising curveball and changeup, although he needs to continue to work on both for them to be consistent, effective offerings.4.
LHP Andrew Oliver
– Baseball-reference player profile
Finding
a consistent, effective offspeed pitch has been a challenge for
Oliver dating back to his years at Oklahoma State. His fastball has
always been a plus pitch for the big lefty, with the ability to sit
in the low-90s, touching a few ticks higher on occasion and as
needed. His control also can be inconsistent, and has struggled in
seven big league starts the last two seasons, going 0-5 with a 7.11
ERA. His changeup profiles as an average pitch at worse when it is
working for him, although he hasn't been able to settle in on one
breaking ball, throwing both a curve and a slider the past several
years with little success.
Oliver
was hardly a finished product when the Tigers selected him in the
second round of the 2009 draft, and they aggressively placed him at
AA Erie when he made his professional debut in 2010, only to make
five spot starts later that summer. While he has 262 strikeouts in
277 minor league innings, he has also walked 130 batters during that
time.
Inconsistency
as a starter may point to a future in short relief for Oliver,
although the Tigers may want to pull back a little and allow him to
spend some more time in the minors this coming season, as they did
last year when he made 26 starts at the AAA level.5.
RHP Brenny Paulino
– Baseball-reference player profile
One
of the most promising developments from their newfound presence in
Latin America, the Tigers proved to be as aggressive with their
promotion of Brenny Paulino as they have been with the pitchers they have procured domestically. He made his stateside debut last year, his
second as a professional, and finished the season by making two starts
in the Florida State League.
Paulino
gave up 13 runs in 5 innings in the FSL, but pitched well in the Gulf
Coast League for most of the year. That makes the Midwest League a
likely spot for him to open the 2012 season, and at 19-years old will
still be one of the younger players in the league.
At
6-foot-4, 170-pounds Paulino screams projection. He has long, wiry
strong limbs with great extension, and can pump his fastball in the
low-to-mid 90s with plenty of room for added velocity as he continues
to add strength. As you may expect, his control, command and overall
repertoire needs work, all things that come with experience.
While
a patient approach would be a wise one with Paulino, his upside is
considerable if all of the pieces come together for him over the next
two to three years.6.
LHP Drew Smyly
– Baseball-reference player profile
Smyly
is a prototypical finesse lefty, armed with a very good pickoff move
and the ability to change speeds and command the strike zone. He has
good size with some projection left in his 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame,
and while he can dial his fastball up to 93, he usually throws in the
upper-80s.
He
can also cut and sink his fastball, and also throws a curveball,
slider and a changeup, giving him a rather deep and well-rounded
arsenal. His arm speed can slow down on his curveball, but otherwise
uses his entire repertoire well to keep batters guessing what is
coming next.
After
signing at the deadline in mid-August of 2010 as the team's second
round pick that year, Smyly made his pro debut this year in the
Florida State League, finishing the season at the AA level. Smyly is
one case that the Tigers could continue to push, as while his upside
isn't particularly high, he is one of the more polished pitching
prospects in the minors and may not have much more to improve upon.
Returning to AA is a possibility, as could opening at AAA giving the
Tigers a trio of promising lefties in the upper levels of their
system.7.
LHP Alex Burgos
– Baseball-reference player profile
The
Tigers have no shortage of talented left-handers in their system, and
Burgos' emergence last year during his first full pro season was
particularly encouraging. While he has a sub 6-foot stature, his
pitching style is similar to Smyly's in that he records outs by
changing speeds well with a broad arsenal while working in the upper
80s to low 90s with his fastball.
His
ability to command and add movement to his fastball is what allows
him to enjoy most of his success, as he averaged just one baserunner
per inning last year in the Midwest League after beginning the season
in extended spring training. He has the ability to miss bats (89
strikeouts in 95 innings) while limiting base hits against (63). He
doesn't have a particularly high upside, but left-handers with a
similar resume have a good history of performing better than their
projected potential.8.
OF Tyler Collins
– Baseball-reference player profile
The
Tigers selected Collins in the sixth round of the draft last June
after he enjoyed a monster season for Howard College in which he hit
.488 with 19 home runs, 34 doubles and a .949 slugging percentage.
That led to him being named the Division I NJCAA Player of the Year,
and he continued to post big numbers over the summer prior to signing
with the Tigers for $210,000 when he was named the top prospect of
the Texas Summer Collegiate League by hitting .310-7-22. He followed that up by
hitting .313/.360/.534 in 42 games in the New York-Penn League to
close out the summer.
Collins
has a strong and compact frame at 5-foot-11, 205-pounds, and an
equally strong and compact swing from the left side of the plate. He
has good, not great speed for his size, at least enough that will
allow him to play an outfield corner. The lack of ideal arm strength
likely limits him to left field, but his overall approach and power
potential could make him a good fit at any run producing position. He
likely will open the year in the Midwest League, but could be moved
aggressively should he continue to post big numbers.9.
C Rob Brantly
– Baseball-reference player profile
Brantly
put his name on the prospect map during the summer of 2009 when he
led the Northwoods League in hitting (.346) on his way to being named
the circuit's top prospect. Draft-eligible as a sophomore coming out
of UC Riverside the following spring and summer, the Tigers took him
in the third round of the 2010 draft.
He
made his pro debut that summer for West Michigan in the Midwest
League, where he returned to open the 2011 season to hit
.303/.366/.440 prior to a promotion to Lakeland of the Florida State
League. He didn't fare as well as well there, hitting
.219/.239/.322, which means for the second straight season he is
likely to start the following season where he finished the previous
year.
Brantly
profiles similar to a left-handed hitting version of former big
league catcher Brian Harper with a good approach at the plate and a
knack for making consistent, hard contact. Like Harper, Brantly's
defensive skills don't project as well as his bat, and his swing is
made more for hard line drives from gap-to-gap than for lofting them
over the fence.10.
C James McCann
– Baseball-reference player profile
McCann's
prospective status as a catcher is almost the opposite of Brantly's,
as the two could create an interesting tandem down the road at the
big league level should they both continue to progress. McCann's
defense is ahead of his offensive prowess, and likely always will be,
with good lateral quickness behind the plate and a strong, accurate
arm.
While
he doesn't project to hit for a high average, McCann does have some
over the fence pop. He has good size and gets good extension. He also manages the game well behind the dish, and shows good leadership
skills. After finishing the 2011 season with West Michigan in the
Midwest League, he likely will begin there to open 2012, and could
advance one level at a time just behind Brantly.Others
in the Conversation: LHP
Brian Flynn, OF Avisail Garcia, OF Tyler Gibson,,
1B
Aaron Westlake